Ken Seamon, from the Seattle area, joined Kathy for a couple of days of climbing in the Chamonix valley.

Here we are on the Petite Aiguille Verte, the Drus looking cold and fearsome over Ken’s shoulder.

Wintry conditions on the shady side of the ridge.

The Argentière glacier looks a long way down.

The next day was quite a bit clearer, if no warmer, for our climb of the Cosmiques Arête on the Aiguille du Midi. This is the view down the ridge exiting the téléphérique station.

Chamonix lies under the sea of clouds. The near ridge is the Aiguille du Plan with the other Chamonix Aiguilles behind it. On the skyline is the Aiguille Vertes and the Droites to the right.

High on the route, the Grandes Jorasses and Dent du Géant behind.

A French party showing us the moves on the crux pitch. Gorgeous sun-drenched rock!

Ken cranking through the crux in his turn.

Almost on top, the glacier is a distant abstraction.

The famous exit moves up the ladder.

And we top out on the viewing platform! Ah, the wilderness! Mont Blanc in the background here, with the rocky point of Mont Maudit just to the left in front of it, and the sérac filled slopes of Mont Blanc du Tacul in the foreground.